Tehelka case: Delhi HC defers order on Tejpal`s bail plea

9:30 pm: Did not indulge in victim`s character assassination, says Shoma Choudhury

Shoma Choudhury, managaing editor of Tehelka magazine, today said that she did not slander the young journalist who accused Tejpal of sexual assault.

She further said that the allegations are part of a malicious campaign against her.

8:45 pm: BJP and Congress in bitter row over Tehelka issue

Both BJP and Congress lashed out at each other over Tehelka issue today.

Without taking any name, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj tweeted, "Union Cabinet Minister who is the founder and patron of Tehelka is shielding Tarun Tejpal." Law minister Kapil Sibal then retorted and said that he was not related to Tejpal and did not have any stake in Tehelka news magazine either.

8:15 pm: Tejpal accepts assault in mail to victim, seeks forgiveness

In a personal email sent to the victim, Tejpal accepted that he tried to attempt a sexual liaison with the victim.

He also wrote that it was not his intention and asked for her forgiveness.

7:30 pm: Victim records her statement

The young journalist has recorded her statement in the sexual assault case and has reportedly maintained her stand on the issue.

5:45 pm: Goa police summons Tejpal tomorrow

Goa police has asked Tejpal to appear before them on Thursday. He has been given a deadline of 3 pm to be appear before the investigating officer for questioning.

Meanwhile, the Goa police confirmed that the statement of the victim is currently being recorded in a local court.

5:30 pm: Delhi DC reserves order on Tejpal`s bail plea till Nov 29

Delhi High Court has reserved its order on the Tejpal`s anticipatory bail till November 29.

The decision today comes after the HC yesterday declined to give interim relief to Tehelka editor-in-chief after the Goa Police opposed his plea for anticipatory bail in a case of alleged sexual assault on a junior woman colleague.

Referring to the email that Tejpal had sent to Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury after the young journalist filed a complaint of sexual assault against him, Parrikar said that it was the "guilty conscience" that made Tejpal confess.

4:21 pm: Tejpal seeks interim protection against arrest

Tarun Tejpal seeks interim protection against arrest for a period of four weeks. According to reports, Tejpal`s lawyer in Delhi HC asks: "Will girls continue to have licence to complain after months or years? Even SC judges are accused after a year."

4:13 pm: Kapil Sibal hits back at BJP

Hitting back at BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal says the opposition party is trying to politicise the case.

Terming it as a malicious campaign, Sibal further dares the BJP to name him directly.

Referring to the Sushma Swaraj`s allegation that a Cabinet minister is "shielding" Tejpal, Sibal asks: "The person who says I am shielding Tejpal should have the courage to name me." Hitting back at Sushma, Sibal asks who protected Reddys.

I did not expect RSS and BJP to fall to this level, says Sibal.

Refuting the messages going around in social media alleging Tarun Tejpal`s mother is Sibal`s sister, the minister says it is not fair to target him personally and dragging his family in the matter.

He further dismisses claims that he has 80% share in Tehelka, saying: "Forget 80, I don`t even have one share in Tehelka. I never had. All this is because I attacked (Narendra) Modi."

I will hold a press conference tomorrow at 12 noon, says Sibal.

3:45 pm: Bail plea hearing underway

Tarun Tejpal`s anticipatroy bail plea hearing is underway in the Delhi High Court.

3:40 pm: `Speedy disposal of Tehelka case is priority`

I request media to let the law take its own course. Whatever has to happen, will happen, says Parrikar. Rejecting allegations of his influence upon the case, the Goa CM says he neither has time nor inclination to take hourly reports and sway the investigation. The matter is sensitive, says Parrikar, adding, he has asked the DGP to brief the media everyday on Tehelka investigation. There is no pressure on police to act against Tejpal, underlines Parrikar.

Dismissing the allegations claiming the BJP is behind the sexual assault case, the Goa CM says the government didn`t write e-mail and then recuse for six months, referring to Tejpal`s e-mails.

Does Tejpal accept that he is a Congress stooge, is he a Congressman, asks Parriker while responding to questions over allegations the investigation is politically motivated. Let Tarun Tejpal do a sting to prove he is being fixed, adds the Goa CM.

Urging media to maintain some restraint, Parrikar says speedy disposal of the Tehelka case is a priority.

Commenting on senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj`s statement that a Union Cabinet Minister is "shielding" Tarun Tejpal, Parrikar said he was addressing the press conference as the CM of Goa, not as a BJP worker. Sushmaji`s statement doesn`t influence my government, says Parrikar.

I wonder what that girl is feeling, not easy for anyone to come out so openly, says the Goa CM, adding Delhi gang-rape incident has had a positive effect. Many women who have suffered abuse are coming out, says the Goa CM.

He further refused to set up a fast-track court for this case, saying there are many such courts in Goa.

Tehelka managing editor today rejected allegations against her and said that she was not involved in any slander, intimidation or character assassination of the girl, who has complained against Tarun Tejpal.

Chaudhury said a malicious campaign is being run that has no basis in truth.

Lawyer Shyam Keswani said that if the girl, who has accused Tarun Tejpal of sexually molesting her in a hotel in Goa approaches him he will take up the case. He further said that he has advised the woman journalist as a legal adviser.

Keswani said that the case is very serious that is why Tejpal is running to the high court for anticipatory bail.

The lawyer further said that the woman even told Tejpal`s daughter that no one is mad enough to blame without any basis.

1:00 pm: SP leader on Tehelka episode

Reacting to the episode, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal said that the flip side to this is many organisations are now scared of hiring women employees.

12:05 pm: Woman scribe records statement

The woman journalist, who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal recorded her statement before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Panaji.

Following the incident, the journalist had resigned from Tehelka, accusing Tejpal and managing editor Shoma Chaudhary of a "cover-up" and resorting to "tactics of intimidation, character assassination and slander".

Tejpal in his anticipatory bail application filed before the Delhi High Court Tuesday had said that Tehelka`s crusading journalism and his opposing ideology was the reason why the BJP was using police to nail him.

"Instant investigation being carried out by the Goa Police is patently tainted, unfair and is being used as an opportunity to satisfy the long standing grudge of the political executive against the works and ideological stand of the present applicant," Tejpal`s application had said.

10:45 am: HC defers hearing

Delhi High Court has deferred till 3:30 PM hearing on Tarun Tejpal`s anticipatory bail plea in the sexual assault case. Goa Police have issued summon to Tarun Tejpal asking to present himself before the investigating official.

10:30 am: Victim in Goa

The woman journalist, who has accused Tarun Tejpal of sexually molesting her in a hotel, has reached Goa to record her statement in front of a magistrate.

Reports suggest that Goa police will take the ex-Tehelka employee to the hotel where the alleged incident happened.

After recording the woman journalist’s statement, Goa Police have issued summon to Tarun Tejpal asking to present himself before the investigating officials, reports said on Wednesday.

As a "precautionary" measure, all immigration posts have been alerted to prevent the ex-Tehelka editor-in-chief.

"He should inform us in case he is leaving the country," Goa Police Deputy Inspector General of Police OP Mishra told a press conference.

8:50 am: Parrikar wants Tejpal case fast-tracked

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar wants the sexual assault case against Tehelka editor-in-chief to be fast-tracked. He also rejected Tarun Tejpal`s claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was pressuring police to act against him.

"Such high profile cases should not be dragged on. They are basically a shocker to public faith," Parrikar said, suggesting that fast tracking the case was a possibility.

"I don`t come under pressure from anyone. My only instruction to them (police) is to not get pressurised due to the position of the accused. Do it without fear and favour. That`s all," Parrikar said.

8:30 am: Delhi HC to decide on Tejpal’s bail plea today’

The Delhi High Court today will hear the anticipatory bail application of Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague at a resort in Goa earlier this month.

Today’s hearing comes after the HC yesterday declined to give interim relief to Tehelka editor-in-chief after the Goa Police opposed his plea for anticipatory bail in a case of alleged sexual assault on a junior woman colleague.

The journalist has accused Tejpal of sexually assaulting her twice at a five star resort in Panaji this month.

Goa Police has registered an FIR against Tejpal for allegedly sexually assaulting his junior on November 7 and 8 at a hotel in Panaji.

Goa Police yesterday said they had recorded the statement of the woman journalist.

In her statement to Goa Police, the victim reiterated the points she made to Tehelka`s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury, a police source told a news agency.

"The statement is consistent with the complaint to Shoma and with the versions told to us by the three journalists (former employees of Tehelka) who the victim had confided in," the official said.